Arbour Project to Kick Start the Community Plan

After many months of hard work by many people, Kinistin Saulteaux Nation completed a comprehensive Community Plan in December 2009. As part of creating the Plan, a vision statement was written that will inspire new project ideas long into the future. The Kinistin vision statement is:

Kinistin Saulteaux Nation will honour our past, present and future through our culture and traditions, to become empowered and to inspire hope and positive change for our people.

Now is the time for action. An important project that has been chosen to kick start the Community Plan is the design and construction of a Pow Wow Arbour. The arbour will not only work toward achieving the Community Vision, but will also help achieve the following goals articulated in the Community Plan:

• Strengthen traditions;
• Use existing human resources (e.g., Elders) to pass along and practice culture and traditions;
• Celebrate culture;
• Work together as a community to increase ownership of community improvements;
• Create quality spaces for the community to gather.

Kinistin is continuing to partner with the Cities & Environment Unit (CEU) at Dalhousie University to design and build the arbour. Over the last two weeks in July, CEU and 6-8 architecture students will be in Kinistin working with community members to design and construct the arbour.

For more information about the project or to get involved please contact Heather Severight, Plan Champion at 306-878-8188.